Carranza unveils capital plan with $750 million in fixes for disability access

11.01.2018 | Chalkbeat New York | Heeding calls from advocates, schools Chancellor Richard Carranza proposed Thursday a $750 million plan to improve accessibility for students with disabilities at a third of the schools in every district. The announcement comes after months of urging from advocates over the lack of access for students with disabilities in a majority of school buildings. About 80 percent of New York City’s public schools are not completely accessible. Last budget cycle, the city committed $150 million to improve access over the next three years. But in order to make just a third of school buildings accessible, advocates estimated a cost of another $750 million. Officials said that, under the new plan, they expect half of elementary school buildings will be partially or fully accessible. Advocates for children with disabilities applauded the news. The plan will “literally open the doors to inclusion,” said Kim Sweet, executive director for Advocates of Children New York, in a statement. Read article